into Tobago
Prepare to be amazed in Tobago, home to some of the greatest dive sites on
earth. in the stunning waters of this Caribbean island paradise you will Come
face to face with beautiful leatherback and greenback turtles, the biggest
brain coral in the oceans and over 600 varieties of incredible fish which are
just waiting for you to DIVE IN. When on land, the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Treasue trove of
activities and cultural delights are just as numerous as the fish in the sea

TO BOOK YOUR DIVING HOLIDAY TO TOBAGO,
CONTACT THE EXPERTS AT DIVE WORLDWIDE

diveworldwide.com/discover/tobago
01962 302 087

CONTENTS
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

Welcome!
Features
4 Reasons to Dive

Let us convince you there’s no better
place to explore beneath the surface

There’s no better place for
divers than the Caribbean!
If you had to describe the
region in one word it would
be ‘diverse’ – and that
applies both above and
below the water.
As well as the Caribbean’s
natural beauty, there is its
rich heritage, with
influences from Africa,
Europe, Britain and Asia.
Read on to find all the
tools you need to plan the
perfect diving holiday. The
Caribbean looks forward to
welcoming you soon!

6 Barbados

A focus on the marine world of this
island and its contrasting coasts

8 Caribbean Marine Life

Our creatures feature tells you what to
look out for and where

11 Cayman Islands

Read all about the islands where diving
for fun began

12 Dominica

This eco-friendly isle has
everything from giant whales
to tiny seahorses

Divers have a world of choice – after all, oceans
cover over 70% of the planet. But here’s why
the Caribbean offers the best scuba – fins down!

1

3

Wreck diving is extremely popular in the Caribbean
Grenada Tourism Authority

team is on-hand to help divers get the
most out of their trip, and advise on local
sites like the atmospheric Underwater
Perfect conditions
Sculpture Park where spooky human-like
Whether you’re an experienced
statues rise from the sea bed.
diver who’s filled a whole shelf with your
Or, for something a bit more exclusive,
log-books or a newbie who hasn’t yet
how about a private island? Turneffe
worked out how to fit a mask without
Island Resort, Belize, is one of three
leaving a mark on your face for several
neighbouring atolls with more than 160
days, the Caribbean offers the perfect
miles of walls and reef and its
conditions for a dive holiday.
dedicated dive programme
The water is warm yearincludes 15 dives per
round and visibility regularly
e
iv
week – that’s plenty of
extends to 30-metresd
a
nt
’re
If you doesn’t wa
opportunities to spot
plus. And the weather
e
t
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m
c th
fanati y too far fro elf a
resident hammerheads.
above the sea is unlikely
s
to stra book your njoy
Magdalena Grand Beach
to scupper your chances
,
e
r
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te
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ou
wa
oard. Y
y!
Resort in Tobago is an allof enjoying the treasures
liveab r dives a da
fou
inclusive resort that offers
beneath it.
a combination of leisure and
A variety of habitats
great diving.
and terrains mean divers
There’s a five-star PADI dive centre
will never tire of the Caribbean:
on-site and the wreck of the M/V
shallow, fringing reefs; sheer walls;
exhilarating drop-offs and coralMaverick ferry is close by. This was the
covered pinnacles. You can shore
first passenger ferry to offer a service
dive, drift dive, cave dive and do just
between Trinidad & Tobago.
about any other kind of dive you can
think of. For example, St. Kitts and
sister island Nevis offer a huge variety of
diving, which you can sample in a single
day. There’s the coral atoll of Monkey
Hassle-free sites
Shoals, hot water vents with reefs and
The Caribbean’s dive sites are mostly
wrecks, including the Nags Head site,
close to shore, unlike many scuba
where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean.
destinations which require divers to join
a liveaboard to access the best sites.
That makes the Caribbean a great choice
for groups of both divers and non-divers
because the latter can do their own
Resorts that understand
thing, but everyone can still meet up and
The Caribbean is set up for
enjoy lunch together! For divers, it allows
diving and many resorts have ‘house
plenty of time to explore on-land too.
reefs’ and on-site dive shops. At Sunset
Curaçao offers shore divers numerous
Diver’s Resort in Grand Cayman guests
beach-accessible sites along its
enjoy unlimited shore dives.
southwestern coast. Oswaldo’s DropLike many Caribbean resorts, True Blue
off is only a few minutes’ swim from the
Bay in Grenada has its own dive shop,
shore and jammed with colourful fish like
Aquanauts, which offers certification
blue chromis and yellowtail snappers.
courses and specialist qualifications. The

2

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Grenada has an abundance of characterful sealife hidden in its depths

Photo, Lawson Wood

The Belize Tourism Board

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artificial reefs bursting with life, there’s
something thrilling about watching the
sepultural shape of a sunken vessel
appear out of the blue haze.
The RMS Rhone sunk in 1867 off the
British Virgin Islands. Originally a UK
Royal Mail vessel, the ‘unsinkable’ ship
got caught in two bouts of hurricane
weather before its demise. Despite being
old, divers can still make out the ghostly
rigging and the propeller.
Anguilla is known for its big collection
of shipwrecks. The 960-tonne Spanish
galleon, El Buen Consejo, rests on the
ocean floor, with its cannons still intact.
In The Bahamas, the retired cargo ship
Ray of Hope is also easy to penetrate –
its cabins, gangways and cargo hold are
now home to sharks and stingrays.
Carlisle Bay Marine Park in Barbados
has six shipwrecks in close proximity.
Divers can enter the Greek freighter, SS
Stavronikita to search for squirrel fish.

4

Amazing wrecks

Diving a shipwreck is always a thrill.
Aside from the fact that wrecks are

Tobago Division of Tourism & Transportation

A spectaular sunset makes for the perfect end to a day in Tobago
British Virgin Islands Tourist Board UK

In the US Virgin Islands, Cane Bay
Beach in the north of St. Croix has a
spectacular coral and sponge coated
wall and clouds of tropical reef fish just a
100-yard paddle from the boat ramp.
Diving at Anse Chastanet Resort, Saint
Lucia, begins 10 yards from the water’s
edge, but if you want to venture further
there are dive boats ready to cast off.

Incredible diversity

The Caribbean is a patchwork quilt of
variety above and below the sea, but
since it’s not physically possible to dive
24/7, it’s important that your holiday
destination can entertain on-land.
The region’s vibrant Afro-Caribbean
culture meshes with European colonial
influences, which influence the music,
food and language.
Take Guyana, which is home to
nine indigenous tribes. In its capital,
Georgetown, visitors will find Christian
churches (including one of the tallest
wooden churches in the world) standing
and colourful Hindu temples.
Some say that African roots run
deepest in Haiti, an up-and-coming
holiday destination that offers a rich
history and culture beyond its palmfringed beaches – from French fortresses
to historic shipwrecks.

Snorkelling with sergeant majors
Grenada Tourism Authority

5

Belize’s famed Blue Hole

Book it with... Tropic Breeze
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and personal experience of each resort.
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CONTRASTING COASTS
Barbados

Snorkel spot

BARBADOS

Safari boats, found on
any beach, offer two to three
hour excursions to Barbados’
marine parks. The west coast
has two designated snorkelling
areas in the the Folkestone
Marine Park. One is just off
the beach in Holetown and
sports a purposely-sunk barge
teeming with vivid marine life
like sergeant majors, parrot fish
and butterfly fish. The main
snorkelling area off the south
coast is Carlisle Bay Marine
Park, home to six wrecks.

Diving delights

The beautifully clear waters of Batts Rock Beach
warm waters throughout the year.
Barbados boasts more than 70 miles of
Away from the sea are hills of sugar cane
sun-saturated, palm-adorned beaches
and characterful towns where Barbadians
lapped by translucent azure waters
(or ‘Bajans’ as they call themselves)
which give refuge to colourful
welcome visitors warmly.
fish, turtles and other
The capital, Bridgetown, is a hub
aquatic creatures.
of
south
of activity where fishing boats
The island is 21 miles
In the , flawless
dos
and charter sailing vessels nestle
long and 14 miles wide
Barba ds and
n
a
s
aters
alongside waterfront restaurants,
but its shores and seas
w
d
te
rotec
t
and duty free shops. There are
are as varied and unique
reef-p ate perfec
cre
elling
also historical sites to explore and
as can be. The west coast
snork ions.
d
calypso music to discover.
n
offers calm waters and
co it
Barbados offers 365 days of
dusty white beaches, whilst
sunshine a year and almost as many
the east is home to impressive
opportunities for amusement! If you tire of
coral sculptures and powerful waves,
diving there’s always golf, sailing, tennis,
making it a top surfing spot. In the south,
horse riding, cycling, cricket, off-road
flawless sands and reef-protected waters
rallying, hiking, or a spot of shopping.
create perfect snorkelling conditions, and
Accommodation ranges from some of
the southeast is a wind-surfing Mecca.
the most luxurious hotels and villas in the
Temperatures vary from 22C at night to
region to great-value all-inclusive resorts.
32C during the day and divers can enjoy

Types of diving
available include drift, beach
and night dives and the best
collection of wrecks in the
Caribbean. The SS Stavronikita
is a 365-foot-long freighter
which was scuttled in 1978.
Now covered in beautiful
corals and sponges, fish
proliferate around it. There are
seven PADI dive centres, in
Speightstown, Holetown and
around Bridgetown. Nitrox is
available from a few of these.

Sea safari

Keep an eye out for...
Nurse sharks
Seahorses
Eagle rays

BARBADOS STAR DIVES
The SS Stavronikita

This wreck is a must-dive for advanced
level divers and upward. Standing above
all others, quite literally, the SS Stavronikita
is a 365-foot-long freighter which was sunk
on purpose in 1978.
Its hulk is now covered in beautiful corals,
sponges and fish
life and is the
most re-dived site
in Barbados. The
dive starts at the
vessel’s forward
mast before
descending into
the ship itself.

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Bell Buoy

This easy dive off Bridgetown boasts one
of the largest areas of healthy hard corals
in the Caribbean, such as the rare elk horn
coral and stag horn coral. Both of these
very brittle types used to be common
throughout the region but were damaged
to virtual
extinction by boat
anchors, waves
and careless
divers. The domeshaped reef’s max
depth is 60-feet
and is home to
schools of fish.

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Carlisle Bay Marine Park

There is so much to see on one dive at this
site: There are four wrecks which are of
particular interest: the Berwyn, Eilon,
C-Trek and Fox. The incredible variety of
brilliantly-coloured marine life at the site
includes frog fish, sea horses, rays,
barracudas,
octopus, reef
squid, mackerel
and moray eel.
Although it’s
ideally suited for
beginners, experts
will love the
variety too.

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17/08/2016 08:54

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MARINE LIFE

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are often spotted scuttling around the
warm sea bed.
The St. Eustatius National Marine
Park was created in 1996 and extends
around the entire island, protecting
pristine coral reefs, walls, pinnacles and
the underwater volcanic fissures and
canyons which have given this area its
diverse and unique topography.
‘Statia’, as the locals call St. Eustatius,
is frequented by reef sharks, nurse
sharks, dolphins, eagle rays, hawksbill
turtles, green turtles and some rarer
species like flying gurnards, high hats,
spotted drum fish, jack-knife fish and
butterfly fish.
Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority

he Caribbean’s big draw card is its
Under protection
sheer diversity.
Venezuela’s Los Roques archipelago
The diving in Martinique alone is
is the Caribbean’s oldest national sea
split into four very different areas:
park. Established in 1972 it is something
Precheur–St Pierre offers walls, wrecks
of an ecological Eden and the perfect
and black sand; Anses d’Arlet is a
dive destination due to the islands’
relatively remote status and
white-sand seabed with a mix
of rocky slopes and walls;
small population.
Cuba is home to several
Baie du Diamant offers
Top spots include La
shark species, and, unique
to the country, American
pleasant coral, calm waters
Piedra de la Guasa, a rock
saltwater crocodiles
and fabulous snorkelling;
pinnacle popular with predwhich live in the
shallower waters
and, finally, Baie de St Luce
ator species such as huge
is the home of the French
barracuda and mackerel
island’s most famous dive
tuna, and Cayo de Agua, which offers
site, Diamond Rock. Divers can swim
the opportunity to dive alongside the
under this rocky outcrop – which gets
whale sharks and the pods of dolphins
its name from its dazzling appearance –
which follow vast schools of tuna bethanks to a cavern on the seabed.
tween December and February.
Safe-guarding the environment is
The Caribbean is also
taken very seriously in Dominica, which
home to a number
calls itself ‘the Nature Island.’
of marine parks
Every dive site in Dominica is placed
which guarantee
in one of three marine reserves: The
that the habitat of
its sea-dwelling
Cabrits National Park Marine Section in
denizens remain
the north, the Salisbury Marine Reserve
safe and away
in Dominica’s central west, and the
from unsustainable
Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve
fishing practices
in the south-west. Visit in November
and other negative
and you’ll probably spot a miinfluences.
grating sperm whale – quite
literally one of the island’s
biggest attractions.
Popular Dominican dive
spot Champagne Reef is
home to slightly smaller
creatures, like the strange
walking frogfish and
elusive seahorses.
The reef gets its name from the
bubbles produced by the underwater hot springs and is also
a popular spot for night diving,
when huge crabs and lobsters

T

U.S Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

Under the Caribbean Sea is a kaleidoscopic
natural theme park. Abundant reefs,
mangroves and volcanic islands give refuge
to a huge variety of fish, marine mammals
and other characters of the sea

As the ocean’s apex
predator, sharks are
a source of fascination for everyone
and a major draw
for divers. Just off St.
Maarten/Saint-Martin, there is a very
special dive which guarantees multiple
shark sightings. Divers can rest on the
seabed and watch dozens of sharks
move stealthily through the blue. The
majority are Caribbean reef sharks
from three- to nine-feet long, with the
occasional curious nurse shark turning
up for the show too.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a
meeting place for some of the ocean’s
largest creatures. The Columbus

Passage is a long and deep channel
between the Turks and Caicos Islands
which acts as a route for migrating fish,
rays, turtles, dolphins and even humpback whales. Grace Bay in Turks and
Caicos is a great place for shark lovers.
You can see reef sharks, nurse sharks
and sometimes blacktips, tiger sharks,
and hammerheads.

Macro in focus
Not every diver thinks bigger is better
and macro diving is perhaps more
rewarding just because the very act of
spotting tiny creatures is a challenge.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is
known as the ‘critter capital of the Caribbean’ because its underwater landscape is perfect for reclusive animals
who like to hide or ‘dress up’ in their
marine camouflage.
Off St. Vincent, in shallow, sandy areas
and sponge-covered reef, there are
spoon-nose eels, octopuses and box
crabs. For those with particularly sharp
eyes, even tinier creatures like golden
coral shrimp, fingernail-sized crabs,
blennies and longsnout seahorses can
often be spotted.
When it comes to the small stuff,

Up close with marine life at Stingray City in The Cayman Islands

Across the Caribbean coral provides the backdrop for divers
The Belize Tourism Board

The U.S Virgin Islands have a variety of creatures for divers to interact with

Reefs in the Caribbean are home to a variety of colourful sealife
Cayman Islands Department of tourism

Shark sightings are common in St. Maarten

Cees Timmers Photography

St Maarten Tourist Bureau

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holidays – helping you to enjoy the exciting
underwater world of the Caribbean.
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you can’t get much more minute than
Snorkel spots
dinoflagellate – microscopic organisms
There are some spots where the effort
which float in the sea and often emit
of donning neoprene is just not worth it
light (bioluminescence).
and where a mask and snorkel will do.
Puerto Rico is blessed with three
Negril in Jamaica is famous for its
bioluminescent bays, the brightest of
seven-mile beach, but its cliff area to
which is Mosquito Bay in the island of
the south is amazing for snorkelling.
Vieques. The lights – the brightJumping from the dramatic
est show of bioluminescent in
outcrops is like leaping into
the world according to The
a personal aquarium that is
t
ba
errat’s
teeming with all sorts of
Guinness Book of Records
Monts partiallya
e,
species usually found only
– is probably caused by
cave is ged crevic f
o
er
subm thousands
on offshore reefs.
the small sea entrance
to
ng
home ats that ha
Antigua and Barbuda is
which impedes the waves
m
b
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n fr
fruit
considered a snorkeller’s
from washing away the
e dow
upsid ve ceiling
paradise, with its powdery
dinoflagellates and the
the ca
soft white sands, warm clear
resident mangrove trees that
waters and coral reefs. In many
provide abundant food for the
areas of the island there is practically
micro-organisms.
no current, making it ideal for first-time
The bay contains up to 160,000 of the
snorkelers and kids. At Paradise Reef,
glowing specs per litre of water, and
the coral stretches for one mile and The
since they emit a blue-green light when
touched, snorkellers moving through
Wreck of the Andes, a merchant ship
the water find themselves in the middle
that sank over a century ago, sits in just
of a spectacular natural light show.
30 feet of water.

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Puerto Rico tourism Company

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ideas
at at
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more
travel
ideas
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Puerto Rico offers a world-beating underwater ‘light show’

There’s more than just colourful fish in the Caribbean seas!

THE ORIGINAL DIVE DESTINATION

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Cayman Islands

Pease Bay, Grand Cayman
There are three unique islands in the
western Caribbean that make up one
paradise for divers: Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Each
has their own unique personality, but
together the Cayman Islands offer one
of the world’s most spectacular and
diverse marine environments.
Year-round temperatures of 29C,
balmy waters, crystal-clear visibility
of over 30 metres and myriad sites
make the Cayman Islands a dream dive
destination for all experience levels.
Many dive sites in Cayman are
minutes from the shore, with shallow
reefs hugging all three islands, as well
as wrecks and wall dives which range
from gentle slopes to steep drop-offs,
liberally sprinkled with caves, gullies
and pinnacles.

In safe hands
There are dozens of top-quality dive
centres in Cayman, all with a reputation
for safety and ecological responsibility.
Beginner divers are in very safe hands
because a plethora of world-class
instructors have made the Cayman
Islands their home.
Perhaps it’s the sheer abundance of
dive sites which attracted this crowd.
There’s 350 to choose from and as only
one boat is ever allowed at a site you’ll
never have to worry about swimming
after the wrong group!

The big island
Cosmopolitan Grand Cayman offers

international dining and shopping, lively
nightlife and big-name hotels, especially
along the spectacular Seven Mile Beach.
If you’re after a low-key break though,
the east of the island is the place to go
– the resident blue iguanas are probably
the only ones moving in a hurry here!
Must-dives in Grand Cayman include
the mushroom-shaped pinnacle of
Ghost Mountain, dramatically carpeted
in ruby red finger sponges and
gorgonian fans. Divers can also navigate
the wreck of the USS Kittiwake, floating
through the mess hall, hospital station
and ammunition lockers, before entering
the bridge.

Off-the-beaten-track
In romantic Little Cayman, the
population is so small that iguanas have
the right of way! It’s only 10 miles long
and one mile wide, but you’ll find many
spots for sun-drenched solitude and
away from the beach there’s a tropical
wilderness to explore. Barefoot luxury is
the name of the game in Little Cayman,
the honeymooners’ isle.
Little Cayman is famous for Bloody
Bay Wall, an undersea cliff face
consistently voted one of the world’s
top wall dives. Vertical drop-offs plunge
to 1,829 metres and red rope sponges,
emerald tube sponges and rare yellow
tube sponges create a kaleidoscope
of colour, prowled by horse-eye jacks,
turtles and sharks.
Wild Cayman Brac is for those who like
to get off track, kick back and relax. The

140-foot brac, or bluff, is a rugged spot
perfect for wildlife lovers. Underneath
the sea are over 50 dive sites, notably
the MV Capt Keith Tibbets, one of the
world’s top wreck dives and the only
diveable Russian warship in the Western
Hemisphere.

Out of the wetsuit
For those who prefer to stay on the
surface, Cayman has spectacular
snorkelling spots just a lazy paddle from
the beach – like Grand Cayman’s Wreck
of the Cali, which lies just off the shores
of George Town.
There’s a veritable feast of
water sports in Cayman, including
windsurfing, kite surfing, paddle
boarding and sailing. A must-do is
bioluminescence kayaking, where every
paddle stroke creates a burst of
sub-aqua shooting stars.

MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, Cayman Brac

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THE NATURE ISLAND
Dominica

The famous Boiling Lake

DOMINICA

If you are looking for a Caribbean
destination with a difference, then
look no further than Dominica, billed
as ‘The Nature Island’ and the ‘Whale
Watching Capital of the Caribbean’.
You will have a hard time finding a
more rugged and authentic island in
the region.
Flying to Dominica is like being
transported to the set of Jurassic Park,
with tall lush green mountains, roaring
waterfalls, hidden gorges and volcanic
hot springs. Much of its nature appears

Jaco Falls

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ways to explore Dominica’s many
to have been barely touched by man.
different communities up close and
Although the main airport is located
personal.
on the north east coast, most divers
Whale watching is another highlight
stay and dive on the calmer West Coast.
most divers will not want to miss. With
This entails an hour-long drive over
over 22 species of cetaceans identified
the mountains, winding through the
in Dominica waters, your chances
rainforest and alongside some of
of seeing these amazing
the many rivers. It is an eyemarine creatures are very
opening introduction to the
s
good. The highlight of any
Nature Island!
ie
c
2 spe
over 2
whale watching excursion
With a population of
With etaceans in our
of c
is seeing the resident
only 70,000, Dominica’s
ters y ese
a
w
a
ic
th
Domin of seeing are
sperm
whales that live in
interior is sparsely
s
es
chanc e creature
Dominica’s deep offshore
inhabited and the majority
in
r
ma
ood
waters. The volcanic nature
of people live on the coasts.
very g
of the island is evident
Much of the interior of
all around and this results in
the island contains protected
surprising ways for people to enjoy
national park areas and a UNESCO
themselves.
World Heritage Site. This has created
At Champagne Reef, snorkellers can
one of the Caribbean’s most exciting
swim through thousands of tiny bubbles
playgrounds for nature lovers.
emanating from volcanic vents in the
When trekking on the Waitukubuli
sea floor. Natural hot springs bubble
National Trail, hikers enjoy one of the
up and create soothing baths in the
longest hiking trails in the Caribbean.
village of Wotten Waven. Perhaps the
Covering 115 miles, the trail criss-crosses
most spectacular volcanic site is the
the country in 14 different segments
Boiling Lake, and the most iconic hike
that vary in distance, difficulty and in
in Dominica is the Boiling Lake Trail.
experiences. This is one of the best

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Much of
Dominica s
nature appears
barely touched
by man

Snorkel spot

Snorkelling in Dominica
is another area where the
topography of our island
results in a truly unique and
different experience. Check
out Champagne Reef where,
just a few yards from shore,
you can float over volcanic
vents of bubbles that give the
sensation of floating in a glass
of Champagne! Also try visiting
L’Abym, a 1500-ft wall that
drops straight from shore!
Our snorkelling is dramatic,
colourful, healthy and unique.

A view of Morne Trois Piton, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The six-hour trip takes trekkers through
the Valley of Desolation and up onto
a ridge overlooking the world’s
second largest boiling lake. With
some challenging climbs and
eef,
descents, this hike is not for
pagne R
At Cham can swim
the faint of heart. But those
rs
e
ll
s of
snorke
thousand
who complete the challenge
through s emanating
ble
can walk away satisfied and
tiny bub anic vents in
say to their friends: “I survived
from volc a floor
the se
the Valley of Desolation and the
Boiling Lake!”
If you happen to visit Dominica
at Carnival in February/March, or during
Snorkelling at Scott’s Head
Independence Celebrations in November,
you will be treated to the most unique,
colourful and friendly cultural experiences
in the region.
Throw in some great music festivals – Jazz
n’ Creole in May and World Creole Music
Festival in October – and the list of reasons
to visit Dominica just keeps growing. If
you’re looking for a natural paradise with
clean cool rivers, fresh locally-grown food,
an expanding list of health and wellness
experiences, the Caribbean’s friendliest
people and, of course, superb diving
experiences in unique and wonderfully
diverse waters, then it’s time to visit
Diving in Champagne Reef
Dominica.

Diving delights

When divers first drop
onto the reefs of Dominica
they immediately realize that
the extreme topography on
land continues underwater!
On many Caribbean islands
one has to travel far offshore
for deep water but Dominica
offers 1,500-ft walls just
offshore. Groups of pinnacles
rise up from the depths
creating a maze of canyons
and deep drop-offs. Cover
this exciting reefscape with
cloaks of reef fish and thriving,
colourful sponges and you can
imagine diving in Dominica.

Siting on the edge of a volcanic crater on
the southern tip of Dominica, this is one of
the region’s most spectacular sites. There
can be strong currents but there are many
days when it’s calm and easy to dive. A
spectacular fish-filled swim-though pierces
the crate wall and
leads to a vibrant
wall covered in
huge barrel
sponges and
gorgonians. The
vivid colorful
sponges ensure
that divers return.

Rinas Hole

This shallow, flat reef has to be one of
Dominica’s prettiest dive sites. It’s hard to
get deeper than about 50ft (12m) but that
means divers seldom surface in under an
hour. A series of island reefs on a flat
bottom, each island is riddled with holes
and tunnels, the
top jam-packed
with sponges.
Beautiful
topography,
amazing colour
and light, and a
huge selection
of creatures.

Toucari Caves

Located in the north of Dominica, Tourcari
Caves is a wonderful mix of the many kinds
of diving Dominica offers. From sloping
reefs covered in barrel sponges and tube
sponges to flat shallow reefs with miniislands to explore. On your way back,
explore archways,
swim thoughs and
their inhabitants.
The varied
topography is
equally fun as a
first or second
dive as it appeals
to all divers.

@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 13

UNTOUCHED IDYLL
St. Eustatius

Snorkel spot

The old town wall
that protected St. Eustatius
during the 17th century has
been taken over by the sea.
However, hundreds of metres
of sunken old town walls
and remains of warehouses
are waiting to be explored.
Take your mask, fins and
snorkel and take off along
this beautiful wall. Don’t be
surprised to find old clay
pipes, pottery and a great
number of juvenile reef fish
who hide between the cracks
of the historic wall.

Diving delights

A turtle swims with ‘the Quill’ in the distance

ST EUSTATIUS

catching volcano ‘the Quill’ dominates
St. Eustatius is untouched by big
the island with its impressive crater and is
developers. Where the coastline on
responsible for the huge amount of lava
surrounding islands is dominated
flows and blocks under the surface.
by big resorts, these are
These old labyrinths of lava are
noticeably absent on St.
now fully overgrown with coral and
Eustatius - otherwise
sponges.
known as ‘Statia’. The
va
la
f
o
s
yrinth volcano
b
The reefs surounding St.
peace and tranquillity has
la
d’s
Old
e islan sible for
th
Eustatius
are flourishing in a
an effect on the whole
m
o
n
fr
ks
spo
are re s and bloc
protected marine park. Measuring
island and its visitors.
w
o
lava fl the surface
27.5 square kilometres, the marine
You don’t find casinos,
under
park is larger than the island itself.
shopping malls or
Underwater you will experience
international fast food
what much of the Caribbean must
restaurants. What you do find is
a safe and friendly island where time stands have looked like many years ago. Sharks
and turtles, who are rare on surrounding
still. You can still enjoy cosy restaurants
islands, are still common on Statia.
and bars in Oranjestad, St. Eustatius’ one
Both small-scale fishing operations and
and only town.
diving companies share the same waters in
For those who look for even more peace
Statia and both benefit from the protected
and quietness there is true hidden beauty
status of its waters.
waiting under the surface. The eye-

Diving around Statia is
so diverse you get the feeling
you’re diving on another island
almost every time you get
below the water. One day you
dive a huge wreck, like the
huge Charles Brown, and an
untouched coral garden, the
next you dive steep walls and
a historical site. This variation,
combined with the protected
marine park make diving here
a truly unique experience.

One of the largest and most impressive
wrecks in the Caribbean, this cable
laying ship was cleaned and sunk in 2003
as an artificial reef for divers. The view
when you approach is spectacular. The
wreck has most of its superstructure intact
and is easy to
penetrate for
those who want
to. Horse-eye
jacks form dense
schools above the
wreck while huge
barracudas live
right on it.

14 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

Double Wreck

These wrecks are difficult to distinguish
from a natural reef due to sponges and
corals that have been growing on the
structure for centuries. Two spongecovered anchors, now home to many
secretary blennies, betray the presence
of the wrecks that
sunk here. This
dive site attracts
marine life like an
oasis in a desert
and the whole
dive site acts as
one large cleaning
station.

@_LoveCaribbean

Shark Reef

This hidden secret in the north of the
island is THE place to encounter reef
sharks. The lack of a mooring, depth
and sometimes strong currents make this
an advanced dive. The reef is surrounded
by deeper water and gives you the feeling
of diving in the
open ocean.
Besides sharks
there is an
abundance of
barracudas and
jacks – and don’t
even try to count
the lobsters.

SEALIFE SUPER HIGHWAY
Turks & Caicos Islands

Snorkel spot

Providenciales has a
wide range of beach
snorkelling locations. The
central Bight Reef and Smith’s
Reef are excellent and easily
accessible sites. The Bight Reef
starts off at the beach where
reef fish, turtles and stingrays
can be spotted. Smith Reef is
more extensive and along with
reef fish, spotted eagle rays
and turtles are common.
Just east of Grand Turk lies
Gibbs Cay, a popular snorkel
spot with friendly southern
stingrays.

Dive delights

The islands offer reef
diving, wall diving,
shipwreck diving and liveaboard dive boats.
Traditional two-tank dives
are the norm but many other
services are also available:
beginners’ courses, three-tank
excursions, night dives, nitrox
courses and private charters.
One estimate is that there are
over 1,000 shipwrecks in the
waters of the Turks and Caicos
Islands. However only two
shipwrecks have been properly
recorded, the Molasses Reef
shipwreck and the Endymion.

Ascending from the deep blue
shallow turquoise water and dropping off
The Turks and Caicos Islands are an
into the deep blue, with structures varying
archipelago of 40 islands. Sparsely
from dramatically sloping to breathtakingly
populated and so far unspoiled,
vertical. Shipwrecks, abundant fish,
these beautiful islands are
shallow coral gardens, walls,
home to the best beach in
e,
id
elaborate sponges and magnificent
the world – Grace Bay
w
e
il
A 22 m ot-deep
colours make the islands an
Beach – and one of the
fo
s
0
8,00
parate m
e
s
outstanding diving destination.
most extensive reef
l
e
chann Islands fro
s
Under the National Parks
systems on earth.
s
k
r
d
u
n
T
la
Is
the
e
aicos
Ordinance, vast areas have
Excellent visibility to
the C transit lin
a
been set aside as marine parks
200-feet, pristine reefs
and is igrating
for m backs
and mooring buoys have been
and easy conditions make
p
m
u
h
established at all dive sites and
the islands a world-class
mooring areas to avoid any possible
diving destination.
damage from anchors.
A 22 mile-wide, 8,000-foot-deep channel
Summer waters of 28 to 29 degrees
separates the Turks Islands from the
celsius at the surface are warm enough
Caicos Islands and is a major transit line for
for swimsuits or a light wet suit such as
migrating humpback whales, spotted eagle
Lycra or Polartec. In the winter, water
rays, manta rays, turtles and dolphins.
temperatures of 23 to 26 degrees celsius
The islands offer shallow reef diving as
suggest the use of a 2-3mm wetsuit.
well as exceptional wall diving starting in

Sea safari

Keep an eye out for...
Manta Rays
Humpback whales
Whale sharks

Grand Turk

The Gulley

Sandbore Channel

Less than a quarter of a mile off-shore
and starting in just 25- to 45-feet of
water, a coral wall runs the length of
Grand Turk Island, with steeply sloping
terrain, coral undercuts and vertical
drop-offs. See
manta rays in
summer, turtles
year-round
and humpback
whales between
December
and April.

This is just one of the many wonderful
dive sites off the coast of West Caicos.
The Gulley gets its name from the
cut in the reef that forms two distinct
sections before dropping off vertically.
The sheer
precipice has
many undercuts
covered in
sponges,
black corals
and tentacle
anemones.

This Providenciales spot is home to
large southern stingrays that can
be found buried in the sand, eagle
rays flying in graceful formation, the
occasional hammerhead shark, turtles,
tons of schooling
fish and giant
barrel sponges.
Popular sites
here are Tons of
Sponge, Razor’s
Edge and Land
of the Giants.

@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 15

TURKS & CAICOS

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS STAR DIVES

The Abacos

PRIMARY LANGUAGES SPOKEN

Florida

English unless indicated

■ French

■ Spanish

Grand Bahama

GULF OF
MEXICO

■ Dutch

Eleuthera

SCALE
0

50

100

150

200 miles

Nassau
Andros

0

150

Cat Island

300 km

The Bahamas
The Exumas
Long Island

Cuba
Mexico

Cayman Islands

Cayman Brac

Little Cayman
Grand Cayman

Belize

Jamaica

CARIBBEAN SEA

Honduras

THE CARIBBEAN
Guyana

Nicaragua
Belize
elize

PACIFIC
OCEAN

Costa Rica

Colombia

MAP

PACIFIC OCEAN

Panama

CARIBBEAN

B
Bermuda

DIVING

N
W

E
S

Turks & Caicos

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Haiti

British Virgin
Islands
Puerto Rico

US Virgin
Islands

Dominican
Republic

Anguilla

Saint Martin
/ St. Maarten
Antigua
& Barbuda

St. Eustatius
St. Kitts
Nevis

Guadeloupe

Montserrat
Dominica
Martinique

St. Vincent &
The Grenadines

Saint Lucia

Barbados

Aruba
Bonaire
Grenada
Curaรงao

Venezuela

Trinidad
& Tobago

Guyana

TOOL KIT

v
i
D tool kit

Get more travel tips at caribbean.co.uk

Before you take the plunge, here are a few
things you should know...

TREAD CAREFULLY

BUDDY UP

Never stand or walk on a reef
and tread carefully on shallow
water around reefs. Shuffle
your feet to avoid stingrays,
and watch out for sea urchins’
spines.

Always snorkel or dive with at
least one other person – it’s
safer and more fun to explore
together. Don’t forget to wear
a watch too!

HANDS OFF
Don’t feed the fish or touch
the animals or coral.
Their protective layers can
be stripped away.

STAY LIGHT

BACK TO SCHOOL
If you’re a first-time diver,
consider doing the study
and pool dive part of your
PADI course at home, that
way you don’t waste quality
diving time in the Caribbean!

STAY GROUNDED
Leave at least a day between
your last dive and any flight or
risk decompression sickness.

MORE INFORMATION
Visit the CTO’s website for
more information on the
region and individual
destinations:
caribbean.co.uk

STRIP OFF
Don’t wear jewellery.
Caribbean fish, barracudas
especially, are drawn to
shiny objects that look like
their natural prey of small
silver fish.

18 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

DONT
WALK
WALK

PADI is the biggest diving
organisation in the region. For
more dive-specific
information and details of
PADI-approved dive centres in
the region, visit: padi.com

@_LoveCaribbean

Caribbean resorts have
great equipment so you can
cut down your baggage
weight by leaving the wet
suit at home. If you take
anything make it your mask.

DESTINATIONS

OF DIVING DESTINATIONS

With more than 3,000 islands, the Caribbean
is one of the most diverse regions in the
world – above and below the water

D

iving in the Caribbean is an
experience much like the region
itself - laid back. That’s because
you’re never very far from
a reef, wreck or some
patch of vibrant
marine life. Much
of the time you’ll
find a spectacular
site just a few fin
strokes from the shore.
The Caribbean is set up for divers, with
a vast array of professional dive shops
and scuba-dedicated resorts which offer
expert training and guiding as well as
specialist courses for advanced divers.
It’s easy to see the Caribbean
as a blur of white-sand beaches, palm
trees and turquoise water, but each
island is unique and offers a different
experience.
There are volcanic islands which

tower dramatically above the sea and
hide dense jungles, as well as flat coral
cays which you can explore in one lazy
afternoon.
Under the water the topography is just
as varied – from colourful coral gardens
where juvenile fish are nurtured to steep
pinnacles and drop-offs visited by giant
pelagic fish, including some awe-inspiring
apex predators.
When you’ve reached your dive limit
you’ll find plenty to entertain out of the
sea and endless beaches to relax on.
The Caribbean is a melting pot
of cultures which has created a
smorgasbord of flavours and rhythms.
Activity options abound and range
from challenging pursuits like hiking and
horse riding to more sedate pastimes
like shopping and dancing. Read on to
learn what makes each Caribbean nation
different and take your pick!

Div
 info@anguilla-tourism.com

A

nguilla is known for incredible wreck
diving. In addition to the Spanish
galleon, El Buen Consejo, there are nine
shipwrecks in its surrounding waters. The
wrecks are home to a wide variety of
corals and marine life such as angelfish,
barracuda, margate, snapper, shark and
graceful turtles.
The fringe of coral reefs and cays
surrounding Anguilla and the island’s
transparent turquoise waters make it the
Caribbean’s premier destination for diving
and snorkelling.
Anguilla’s waters are alive with beauty
and history just waiting to be explored, so
what are you waiting for?

Dive sites are easily accessible and mostly
win islands in the Leewards, Antigua
just minutes away by boat.
and Barbuda, are set on a shallow
bank and encircled by reefs of soft
and hard corals.
Diving centres:
DID YOU KN
Antigua also has some barrier
Indigo Divers (indigoA popular d OW?
iv
Cade’s Reef e site is
reefs and offshore ledges.
divers.com); Jolly Dive
, a barrier
reef which
Shipwrecks lie off both islands
(jollydive.com); Dive
lies off the
southwest tip
Antigua (diveantigua.
but notably Barbuda, which
of Antigua
and is now
part of a
com); Dockyard Divers
has over 200.
marine par
k
(dockyard-divers.com).
Most diving is off Antigua,
which has an established diving
scene. Reef dives are mainly in
Look out for: Shallow reefs
shallow water off Antigua’s west coast.
hide parrotfish, angelfish, groupers,
The south coast offers deeper dives for
lobsters and moray eels. Offshore reefs
more experienced divers, with large rock
and deep dives reveal blacktip reef
formations, valleys, ledges and drop-offs
sharks, turtles, stingrays and nurse sharks.

D iv

THE BAHAMAS

T

he Islands Of The Bahamas offer an
array of dive experiences like no other
destination in the world. Boasting some
of the clearest waters, you’ll find sunken
Spanish galleons, the deepest ocean
blue hole, one of the largest underwater
caverns and the third-largest fringing
barrier reef that’s teeming with vibrant
marine life. You can even swim with
hammerhead sharks — an experience sure
to get your adrenaline pumping. Explore
what else makes The Bahamas the most
complete diving destination on earth.

Look out for: A
diverse parade of marine
life from turtles and charismatic eagle
rays to marching spiny lobsters and the
occasional tiger shark.

John Bantin

�bahamas.co.uk

 info@bahamas.co.uk

D iv

BARBADOS

 BTMI-UK@visitbarbados.org

�visitbarbados.org

��+44 (0)20 7299 7175

 @barbados

�VisitBarbados

arbados is good for diving all year
west coast and south coast as well as
round, but the summer months
diving operations at a number
produce the best opportunities
of hotels, including The
for diving on the north and east
Hilton. Barbados has a
DID YOU KN
sides of the island. Fringe,
decompression chamber,
The Stavroni OW?
ki
most famou ta is the
barrier and patch reefs offer
situated at St. Ann’s Fort.
s wreck in
Barbados an
diving up to two miles off the
d
is
relatively in
tact.
west coast, which also has a
Look out for: Corals,
in the Folkes It lies
tone
number of wrecks. Barbados
sponges and gorgonians
Marine Park
is a good place to learn and
on the reefs; black coral,
novices can also enjoy night
sea whips and sponges
dives on some of the shallow reefs
on wrecks. Reef dwellers
and wrecks.
include wrasse, yellowtail
snappers, parrotfish, turtles, moray eels
and barracuda. Find tiny frog fish and
Diving centres: There are more
seahorses at Carlise Bay.
than a dozen dive centres along the
20 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

BARBADOS TOURISM INC

B

Dive
 info@travelbelize.org

B

elize is located in Central America
and is bordered to the north by
Mexico and to the east by the Caribbean
Sea. A diverse country with various
cultures and languages, Belize also has
the lowest population density in Central
America. Belize is known for its extreme
biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems
and is part of the Mesoamerican
biodiversity hotspot, with many jungles,
wildlife reserves and a large variety of
species of flora and fauna. It has the
largest cave system in Central America.

�travelbelize.org

BELIZE

��+44 (0)800 624 0686

 @belizevacation

�TravelBelize

Diving centres: Belize offers
exceptional diving resorts, each with their

The Belize Tourism Board

own diving centres. Robert’s Grove Resort
(robertsgrove.com) and the
award-winning Hamanasi
Adventure and Dive
OW?
Resort (hamanasi.com)
DID YOU KN
s the
offer instruction and
Belize boast argest
nd-l
co
se
’s
ld
amazing day dives.
or
w
a
r Reef,also
Great Barrie ld heritage
or
w
O
UNESC
Look out for:
ars.
site for 20 ye
The UNESCO World
Heritage Belize Barrier
Reef is home to a world of
untouched coral and abundant
marine life, ranging from vast whale
sharks and manta rays, to dolphins, sea
turtles and coral fish.

iscover the diversity of the Cayman
Islands, three of life’s little luxuries.
Fabulous cuisine, cultural attractions,
wildlife, beautiful coral beaches and of
course outstanding scuba diving await
you! Lauded as the birthplace of sport
diving in the Caribbean, Grand Cayman,
Little Cayman and Cayman Brac have
been showing off their spectacular
underwater scenery and marine life
since 1957 when scuba pioneer Bob Soto
opened his first dive shop. British Airways
fly from Heathrow to Grand Cayman.

Diving centres: Visitors are spoilt for
choice when selecting a dive company

�divecayman.ky

CAYMAN ISLANDS
��+44 (0)20 7491 7771

 @cayman_islands

�EuropeVisitCaymanIslands

as there are more than 40 dive operators
across the three islands, with
centres at most of the main
hotels, dedicated dive
OW?
DID YOU KN
resorts and a liveaboard
the worldto
e
om
H
l
company also
dy Bay Wal
famous Bloo City, over
operating year round.
y
ra
g
in
St
and
s plus great
365 dive site await in
ng
lli
Look out for:
snorke
Islands
Brightly-coloured corals,
the Cayman
gorgonian sea fans and
sponges thrive on the reefs.
Fish life is profuse, ranging from
typical reef dwellers to eagle rays, sharks,
turtles and large pelagic fish which patrol
the walls.
@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 21

D iv

CUBA
 tourism@travel2cuba.co.uk

�travel2cuba.co.uk

��+44 (0)20 7240 6655

�MinturCuba.uk

T

The water temperature ranges between
he largest island in the Caribbean,
75.2 and 84.2F (24 and 29 C) all
Cuba’s 3,500-mile coastline –
year round.
including its offshore islands and
cays – is surrounded by reefs.
Much of its underwater heritage
Diving centres: There
DID YOU KN
OW?
is little dived, and as a result
are dive centres near the
Whale shar
its reefs are some of the best
main diving areas and at
sometimes ks can
be seen in
preserved in the Caribbean.
a number of resort hotels
winter
There are a number of marine
in major tourist areas. For
parks and other protected areas
more information visit:
in Cuba, several of which have
nauticamarlin.tur.cu
been declared UNESCO biosphere
reserves.
Look out for: With its long
Diving areas include Maria la Gorda, Isle
Spanish heritage, Cuba is the resting
of Youth, Cayo Largo and the cays of the
place for many ships that foundered on
Jardines de la Reina and Santa Lucia.
its reefs over the centuries.

D iv

CURAÇAO
�curacao.com

��+31 70 891 66 00

C

uraçao has world-class diving with
a shallow fringing reef which drops
off to deep water beyond. Much of its
diving is shore-based because sites are
so close. Its diverse undersea landscape
includes coral gardens, gentle slopes and
vertical walls, providing a habitat for a
multitude of corals and fish. The Curaçao
Underwater Park protects nearly 1,500
acres of reef.
Most dives are off the sheltered west
coast. There is usually a mild current, but
diving suits all levels, with easy and safe
dives on shallow reefs and challenging
drop-offs and caves. There are also
several wrecks.

till relatively undiscovered, Dominica’s
Diving centres: Dominica has a
underwater topography mirrors
number of dive operators
that of its mountainous landscape,
including centres at some
with lushly covered reefs
hotels. All are members
DID YOU KN
plunging to great depths
of the Dominica
The five Dan OW?
glebens
offshore. Nutrients washed
Watersports Association
Pinnacles ri
se
down from mountain rivers
(dominicawatersports.
100 to 25-fee from
t
help Dominica’s reefs’
com).
covered with and are
sponges
and corals
luxuriant marine growth and
including
black coral
attract masses of fish life.
Look out for: Abundant
The Scotts Head/Soufriere
reef life with many
Marine Reserve protects many of
varieties of coral, sponges
the island’s top dive sites. Walls from the
and gorgonians. Squid, frogfish,
submerged volcano crater of Soufriere
squirrelfish, pufferfish, turtles, seahorses,
Bay plummet 1,500 feet, with ridges and
soldierfish, wrasse barracuda and flying
pinnacles making for spectacular diving.
gunards are popular sightings.
22 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

�DiscoverDominica

Div
 gta@eyes2market.co.uk

W

ith more than 50 intriguing sites
to be discovered it’s no wonder
that divers of all levels are attracted to
Grenada and its sister islands, Carriacou
and Petite Martinique.
Dive into Grenada and you will find,
just a short ride from shore, colourful
coral reefs, spectacular shipwrecks,
exhilarating drift dives and the world’s
first Underwater Sculpture Park.
Both Grenada and Carriacou offer
diver training courses and snorkelling
expeditions. Grenada boasts one of the
Caribbean’s largest and most famous
wreck dives, the Bianca C, while Carriacou
is known as the ‘Island of Reefs’ and

GRENADA

�puregrenada.com

��+44 (0)20 8328 0644

�discovergrenada

 @puregrenada

offers excellent and varied diving with
every kind of coral imaginable.

DID
Grenada
Not only is diving
nd
a year-rou
each year it
destination, res to the
tu
p
ul
sc
adds
Sculpture
Underwater
Park

Grenada and Carriacou
are home to a vast
variety of marine life
including turtles, sea horses,
frog fish, angel fish, parrot fish, lobster,
barracuda and moray eels, plus many
types of corals and beautiful sponges.

Div
 info@guyana-tourism.com

�guyana-tourism.com

GUYANA

��00 592 219 0094-6

�GuyanaUndiscovered

 @TourismGuyana

T

Guyana Tourism Authority

into the rainforest. Guyana is one of
here is no diving in Guyana but this
the world’s most exciting and
wild and beautiful country makes
adventurous destinations.
a great destination to twin with
neighbouring Venezuela or the
DID YOU KN
southern Caribbean.
Look out for: Jaguars
Kaieteur Fa OW?
lls, where
Guyana is a country of
still roam the rainforest,
the 400-foot
wide Potaro
River plung
stunning natural beauty,
and the cries of troupes
es 741 feet
from the Pa
with a long coastline, dense
of howler monkeys echo
karaima
Plateau, is on
equatorial forest and the
through the trees. Unique
e of the
world’s gre
at waterbroad savannah of the
wildlife includes the giant
falls
Rupununi. Mount Roraima was
river otter, black caiman,
the inspiration for Conan Doyle’s
and the Arapaima (the largest
Lost World.
freshwater fish in the world),
Life in Guyana is dominated by its
which swim in the rivers of the Rupununi.
mighty rivers, including the Demerara, the
Brightly-coloured birds like macaws flit
Berbice and the Essequibo – all highways
across the forest canopy.

Div
 info@experiencehaiti.org

N

ature seekers will be amazed at
Haiti’s rich diversity, demonstrated
by its wonderful unspoilt mountains
and coastline and culturally rich towns.
There are important historical buildings,
including Citadelle Laferriere, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Haiti is virtually unknown as a diving
destination but it has some unique
underwater treasures, including reefs and
historic shipwrecks. Most diving is around
Côte des Arcadins and the North East
Coast of La Gonave. There are shallow
dives on the Arcadins Islands, wall dives
are found around La Gonave, Port St Marc
and Trou Forban.

�experiencehaiti.org

HAITI

��+44 (0)20 3289 1804

 @XperienceHaiti

ExperienceHaiti

Diving centres: There are dive
centres at some hotels, at
Port Morgan (South) and
Comier Beach (North).
DID YOU
There is also the Marina
KNOW?
i Beach
Blue, on the Côte des
Near Aman d the
fin
ill
divers w
Arcadins (the beach
g
e. Extendin
Zombie Hol 137 metres
area closest to Portto a depth of huge
au-Prince).
it’s home to r
elephant ea
sponges
Look out for: Little is
known about Haiti’s reefs
but studies in the 1980s at Les
Arcadins found 35 species of hard corals
as well as 12 gorgonians and 54
species of sponge.
@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 23

D iv

JAMAICA

�visitjamaica.com

 mail@visitjamaica.com

��+44 (0)20 7225 9090

 @visitjamaicauk

�visitjamaicauk

C

ompletely surrounded by turquoise
(scuba-jamaica.com). Sea Safari
warm waters with temperatures
companies include Island Routes
(islandroutes.com); Chukka
up to 24C, Jamaica is the
Caribbean (chukka.
ideal destination for diving
DID YOU KN
OW?
com); Cool Runnings
enthusiasts, both experts and
Jamaica is th
e third
largest isla
(coolrunningscatamarans.
novices.
nd in the
West Indies
com); Glistening Waters
The island boasts superb
- and the
only one co
mpletely
(glisteningwaters.com).
unspoilt tropical bays with
surrounded
by
hidden treasures like sunken
Caribbean the
Sea!
wrecks and vibrant corals that
Look out for: Among
will awaken your senses.
the reefs, expect to see
To dive in Jamaica, it is required
brilliant parrotfish, large-eyed
that you obtain a PADI certificate.
squirrelfish, blue tang, stingrays,
eagle rays, rock lobster and turtles. Blue
marlin, yellowfin tuna, shark and wahoo
Diving centres: Scubacaribe
reside in the deepest waters.
(scubacaribe.com) and Scuba Jamaica

D iv

MARTINIQUE
�martinique.org

M

��+33 1 44 77 86 00

 @cmtmartinique

�MartniqueMagniﬁque

three wrecks at St-Pierre and the canyons
of Les Canyons de Babodi,
which drop 150 feet, 300
feet from the shore.

artinique is often called the Isle of
Flowers, and its warm soil is home
to a riot of tropical colour. It is an ideal
choice for divers, hikers and yachties.
This French island has serious style
and makes for a sophisticated beach
holiday with West Indian warmth in
its personality and a truly laid-back
atmosphere. There are plenty of sports to
choose from on Martinique, from yachting
to golf, windsurfing to deep-sea fishing.
And diving of course! There are many
exceptional diving sites in Martinique,
both on the Caribbean and Atlantic coast.
Scuba highlights include the coral reef
between St-Pierre and Le Pecheur, the

Diving centres:
There are
approximately
40 diving schools
on the island with
some of them situated
conveniently at hotels.

offs from its continental shelf.
t may be dominated by its active
volcano but Montserrat hasn’t
lost its diving. Thanks to a small
Diving centres: Green
population, even prior to the
Monkey Dive Shop
DID YOU KN
OW?
eruption in 1995, there has been
(divemontserrat.com)
Montserrat’s
island neig closest
little pollution or damage to
and Scuba Montserrat
hbour, the
uninhabite
dK
the corals on its reefs.
(scubamontserrat.
Redonda, of ingdom of
fers pristin
Activity from the Soufriere
com) offer courses and
e
diving and
visibility at
Hills Volcano currently limits
equipment rental.
uncharted
sites
diving to the northern part of
the island and most diving is
Look out for: Typical
done on the west coast, which is
reef dwellers including cleaner
mostly in the lee of the Atlantic waves
shrimps, octopus and lobster.
and trade winds. Montserrat has shallow
Larger pelagics and turtles patrol deeper
reefs inshore, with deeper reefs, boulders
waters, where there are huge barrel
and ledges further out, leading to dropsponges, brain, staghorn and star corals.
24 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

David Mac Gillivary -Montserrat Tourist Board

I

Div

N

evis is one of the most unspoilt and
relaxing islands in the Caribbean.
Vividly green with blue skies, clean air and
long empty beaches, Nevis has a pace
of life that encourages you to stop and
appreciate all the natural beauty around
you. It’s a very special place famed for its
charm and easy-going genuine people.
Come and discover this remarkable jewel
for yourself.

Diving centres: Nevis’ only dive shop,
Scuba Safaris (divenevis.com), enables
trips to dozens of reefs, wrecks and
volcanic vents - just minutes offshore.
The company offers a multitude of diving

�nevisisland.com

��+44 (0)130 523 3107

 @NevisNaturally

�nevisnaturally

and snorkelling courses as well as private
charter ventures for those not
wanting to share a boat.
OW?
Look out for: The
DID YOU KN
asons in
channel between
The Four Se let you
en
Nevis and St. Kitts is
Nevis will ev ef and
ch
a
ith
w
e
div
teeming with marine
bster
your own lo
h
tc
ca
life, with large schools
r!
ne
in
d
r
fo
of fish commonplace.
However, the waters
around Nevis play host to
amazing creatures including
four species of turtle, humpback whales
and spinner dolphins – just a taste of the
interactive marine life on offer.

Nevis Tourism Authority

 info@nevisisland.com

NEVIS

Div
 puertorico@hillsbalfour.com

�seepuertorico.com

PUERTO RICO

��+44 (0)20 7593 1782

 @PRTourismCo

�SeePuertoRico

F

our nature reserves protect nearly a
Diving centres: There are a number
quarter of Puerto Rico’s diverse and
of dive centres, including some
well-developed coral reefs. These
at major hotels, with diving
reserves skirt much of Puerto
close by. Here’s a few
DID YOU KN
Rico’s coast and encircle its
websites to check out:
OW?
The best div
offshore Islands.
divepuertorico.com and
ing is
off the sout
h and west
Puerto Rico offers enticing
pureadventurepr.com
coast at La
Parguera W
ocean temperatures of around
all,
which has d
eep
27°C and underwater visibility
Look out for: There’s
and reef div wall
ing
is generally up to 100-feet or
a multitude of corals and
more – making the island a real
prolific fish life, including
paradise for dive enthusiasts.
the chance to see turtles,
Beginners benefit from scuba classes
seahorses, hammerhead sharks
in the majority of major hotels in Puerto
and manatees on dives, as well as
Rico and many dive shops offer lessons
dolphins and humpback whales from
for all levels.
the boat.

Div

W

here the coastline on surrounding
islands is dominated by big resorts,
on St. Eustatius it is serene peace and
tranquillity which engulfs the island –
something that is passed on to residents
and visitors alike.
Statia, as it is called by the locals, prides
itself on being a very safe and friendly
island where time has stood still.
The reefs surounding St. Eustatius are
flourishing in a protected marine park
larger than the island itself.
The old town wall that protected St.
Eustatius from the 17th century has now
been taken over by the sea and hundreds
of metres of sunken old town walls and

he underwater topography of St.
Diving centres: PADI accredited dive
Kitts offers divers of all levels
centres include: Kenneth’s Dive
an authentic scuba experience
Center (kennethdivecenter.
in beautiful underwater
com), Pro Divers
DID YOU
KNOW?
surroundings.
(prodiversstkitts.com),
The waters
around
Unknown to many, the
Dive St. Kitts (divestkitts.
St. Kitts are
ho
waters offshore offer a wealth
com) and Scuba Safaris
hundreds of me to
sunken
galleons an
of amazing dive sites, from
Ltd. (divestkittsnevis.
d fr
from 17th an igates
virtually untouched coral reefs
com).
d 18th
century nava
and shoals to hot-water vents,
l
battles
shallows, sloping canyons, walls
Look out for: St. Kitts
and swim-through caverns, home to
offers a variety of sea safaris
colourful marine life at depths ranging
from snorkelling excursions and
from 40 to 200 feet. There are also plenty
fishing trips to catamaran cruises where
of shipwrecks to explore and the island
music, a well-stocked bar, beach-time and
has excellent dive centres.
lunch make for an exhilirating day out.

D iv

SAINT LUCIA
�saintluciauk.org

 sltbinfo@stluciauk.org

P

lunging into the crystal-clear waters
of Saint Lucia is a great experience for
both beginners and experts alike.
There are a variety of dive operators on
the island who are dedicated to ensure
exceptional diving experiences for all.
Saint Lucia boasts a number of stunning
dive sites that catapult divers into a
tranquil world filled with secret nooks
waiting to be explored. With some of
the most captivating deep-sea wildlife
in the Caribbean, you can experience an
underwater carnival of exotic fish.

Diving centres: Saint Lucia has
a number of dive centres, many of

��+44 (0)20 7341 7000

 @SaintLuciaUK

�SaintLuciaUK

which can be found within resorts. Visit
saintluciauk.org/diving for a full
list of dive centres.

Look out for: An
OW?
DID YOU KN
fers
of
a
abundance of sea
ci
Lu
Saint
g which
life including turtles,
helmet divin n even
ca
seahorses, stingrays,
means you es under
ss
la
g
ur
yo
wear
barracudas and many
the water!
tropical fish. Divers can
explore the reefs to see
barrel sponges and brain
coral. Species include goatfish,
parrotfish, chromis, wrasse and squid in
shallow waters, and triggerfish, groupers,
jacks and snappers on deeper sites.

D iv

ST. MAARTEN

 info@vacationstmaarten.com

�vacationstmaarten.com

��+1 721 549 0200

 @StMaartenTravel

�vacationstmaarten

the HMS Proselyte, a notable British
ive enthusiasts will enjoy the
frigate which sank in 1801 on a
crystalline waters surrounding
reef near Great Bay.
St. Maarten, which allow for clear
DID YOU KN
visibility of up to 200 feet and
OW?
St Maarten
excellent views of the colourful
Diving centres: There
’s
national mar first
ine park,
fish and coral.
are several dive centres
the Man of
W
There are more than 40
and operators in St.
Marine Park ar Shoal
,p
the Proselyt reserves
excellent dive sites off St.
Maarten, including some
e
important un Reef, an
Maarten’s coast and day trips
based at hotels.
derwater
habitat
are available to neighbouring
islands such as Anguilla and
Look out for: Many
St. Barts, which also offer superb
species of corals, crustaceans
diving. There are a couple of diveable
and reef fish covering the full
wrecks and some large caves. A marine
colour spectrum. Divers may also see
reserve protects many coastal areas.
turtles, sharks, eel, barracuda, angelfish,
St. Maarten’s most popular sites include
stingrays and eagle rays.

26 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

St Maarten Tourist Bureau

D

Div
 paris@iledesaintmartin.org
here are about 50 diving sites spread
out around Saint Martin – an infinite
space waiting to be explored beneath
the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and
the Caribbean Sea and one of the most
prestigious diving destinations in the
Antilles Arc.
Here, all-year-round, divers will find
perfect coral reefs and vaulted ceilings of
their caves. A wealth of tropical aquatic
fauna can be found in the rocky depths,
both among the aquatic plants as well
as around the wrecks intentionally sunk
to serve as artificial reefs. Both provide
habitats for thriving fish, crustacea, turtles
and seashells.

�stmartinisland.org

��00 33 1 53 29 99 99

 @ilesaintmartin

Diving centres: There are several wellequipped dive centres offering
certification and advanced
diving. Some are based at
hotels and resorts.

Look out for: The

�ot.sxm
q are

DID YOU
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ical site
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many reefs are covered
with multi-coloured
sponges and soft corals
which serve as rich
hunting grounds for the
multitude of brightly coloured
tropical fish which inhabit them. Divers
may also see turtles,sharks, barracuda,
stingrays and eagle rays.

Laurent Benoit

T

SAINT MARTIN

Div

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
�discoversvg.com

 svgtourismeurope@gmail.com

��+44 (0)20 7937 6570

 @DiscoverSVG

�DiscoverSVG

S

Kay Wilson

t. Vincent and the Grenadines
Diving centres: You can
offers some of the most majestic
find dive centres on St. Vincent,
underwater terrain for scuba divers.
Bequia, Mustique, Canouan,
The water is exceptionally clear
Union Island and Petit St.
for most of the year and divers
Vincent.
DID YOU KN
OW?
will be captivated by the
The Tobago
Cays is
St.Vincent
beautiful rainbow-coloured
Look out for: There is
an
Grenadines d the
reefs. Bequia offers gently
an abundance of sealife
National
Marine Park
sloping reef dives, wrecks
in the waters. Fish, black
and garden dives. Mustique
corals and even a seahorse
provides divers with the chance
or two can be spotted,
to see rare spotted drums, banded
which makes for superlative
coral shrimp and secretive critters.
diving on the islands. Also on
Canouan, Union Island and Petit. St
show are an amazing underwater forest
Vincent offer drift dives wreck dives and
of sea fronds and gently-waving sea fans,
reef dives.
sparkles of tiny fish and coral reefs.

Div

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

 trinbago@amgltd.biz

S

eparated from Trinidad by just a few
miles of water Tobago has been
blessed with all of the attributes of a
world-class dive destination, perhaps
at the expense of its sister to the south.
The island’s nutrient-rich waters support
some of the most amazing reefs in the
Caribbean. Its proximity to South America
places it in the path of the
Guyana current, which feeds the area with
the nutrients from Venezuela’s Orinoco
River. This attracts marine life from the
microscopic to the majestic.

Diving centres: The Association of
Tobago Dive Operators has members

�tobagostyle.travel

��+44 (0)844 846 0812

 @TnT_Steelypan

�adventuresofsteelypan

located in the northern and southern
parts of the island and
information about pricing,
tours, training and dive
OW?
sites can be found on
DID YOU KN
s what
st
oa
b
o
its website: tobago
Tobag
world’s
e
th
scubadiving.com
is possibly
ral at
co
in
largest bra
off the
’
in
ra
D
‘Kelleston
Look out for: Drift
side
ey
village of Sp
along the ‘Flying Reef’
past huge plate coral
colonies and the wall of
Bermuda Chub. ‘The Sisters’ is
a series of rock pinnacles rising from the
deep and plays host to hammerheads
and sealife.
@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 27

D iv

TURKS AND CAICOS

 info@tcilondon.org.uk

�turksandcaicostourism.com

��+44 (0)20 7034 7845

 @TCITourism

�tcitourism

T

Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board

he Turks and Caicos Islands offer
Diving centres: There are many dive
shallow reef diving as well as
centres, located mainly on Grand
exceptional wall diving on deep
Turk and Providenciales.
walls, canyons, seamounts,
All operators have diving
DID YOU KN
ledges and swim-throughs. The
equipment available for
The remote OW?
island of
Salt Cay is
reefs encircling the banks and
rent, PADI, NAUI and SSI
one of
best places the
islands are extremely diverse,
certification recognised.
to
experience
with 37 coral species and
the rare
chance to d
ive with
more than 400 fish species
Look out for: Abundant
humpback
whales
recorded.
marine life from small
The Islands lie on the edge of
nudibranchs to the giant
two undersea mountain plateaus
humpbacks.
with steep walls throughout. With such
The islands’ walls attract large
varied types of diving for everyone, from
pelagic species including manta and
the novice diver to the advanced diver.
eagle rays, turtles, sharks, groupers,
dolphins and whale sharks.

D iv

US VIRGIN ISLANDS
�visitusvi.com

T

he U.S. Virgin Islands is part of the
Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. The
three main islands – St. Croix, St. John
and St. Thomas – feature breathtaking
landscapes, each distinguished by its own
personality.
St. Croix’s underwater national
monument, St. John’s protected
underwater reserve and St. Thomas’
collection of wrecks and reefs appeal to
divers of any skill level. The captivating
collection of sites, reefs, wrecks and caves
can all be explored in a single day.

Diving centres: The U.S. Virgin
Islands features an array of five-star

��+1-800-372-USVI (8784)

 @USVITourism

�visitusvi

PADI-certified dive operators that cater
to both novice divers and dive
enthusiasts. Additionally,
many resorts have
dive centers and dive
OW?
DID YOU KN
ience
er
p
packages. For a list
ex
You can
in the
es
iv
d
of dive centers, visit:
five types of nds - wall,
Isla
www.visitusvi.com
U.S. Virgin
, piers and
wreck, reef
shore
Look out for: From
wreck and wall dives
to thrilling night dives,
the U.S. Virgin Islands feature
an enviable variety of underwater
experiences, making it one of the
Caribbean’s top dive destinations.

U.S. virgin Islands Department of Tourism

 info@usvitourism.vi

Div

VENEZUELA

 economia.londres@mppre.gob.ve

�mintur.gob.ve

��+44 (0)20 7584 4206

 @minturvenezuela

�Minturven

notably Los Roques, made up of 40
oasting the longest stretch of
islands and a national park.
coastline of any Caribbean country,
Venezuela has its fair share of
blissed out beach resorts. But
Diving centres:
DID YOU KN
this still under-visited country
Liveaboards can be
OW?
Reefs exis
has much more to offer.
organised from Caracas.
mainland co t off the
ast
The clear, warm waters of
There is a dive resort in
such as Mor at places
rocoy and
the Caribbean coastline are
Los Roques and some on
Mochina, b
oth nationa
l
parks near
ideal for snorkelling, diving
the mainland.
ly 30 years
and all manner of water-based
old
activities. Inland are wetlands, the
Look out for: More than
steamy Amazon, rolling savannah
50 coral species have been
punctuated by flat-topped mountains
identified at Los Roques along
and the famous Angel Falls.
with nearly 300 species of coral reef fish.
Venezuela’s marine treasures are
Large fish include big-eye jacks, tarpon,
concentrated off its offshore islands,
eagle rays, sharks and barracuda.

BVITOURISM.CO.UK 44-207-355-9585
The best-kept secrets are the ones we keep to ourselves. The
secrets hidden among the British Virgin Islands are some of
nature’s best. Throughout her 60 bejeweled islands are pristine
beaches, ancient shipwrecks, colorful coral gardens and cave
explorations that quench the most profound wanderlust. These
are everlasting moments. The ones you keep to yourself.